Bag feeding and filling machines



y 3, 1956 H. v. KINDSETH ET AL 2,753,097

BAG FEEDING AND FILLING MACHINES Filed July 13, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

H ZEsuE ASTE/NaERG ALBE TAJ7'AG5TROM A T TOR/VS Yd July 3, 1956- H. v.KINDSETH ET AL 2,753,097

BAG FEEDING AND FILLING MACHINES 6 'ALBERTAJ/AGSTMM ATTORNEY;

July 3, 1956 H. v. KINDSETH ET AL 2,7

BAG FEEDING AND FILLING MACHINES Filed July 13, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 3l5 fi V 2 f INVENTOR. HAROLD M MNDJE TH BY [ESL/E AJTE/NBERG/1L8ERTA.//AGJTROM fig L L l A TTORNE K3 y 1956 H. v. KINDSEFH ET AL2,753,097

BAG FEEDING AND FILLING MACHINES 1,4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 13, 1951y 3, 1956 H. v. KINDSETH ET AL 2,753,097

BAG FEEDING AND FILLING MACHINES l4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 13, 1951JNVENTOR. l/A/POLD I Jfl/VDJETH ALBERT .HAGSTIPOM who WM F/G'6flT-roRA/E Y6 J ly 3, 1956 H. v. KINDSETH ETAL BAG FEEDING AND FILLINGMACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed July 13. 1951 INVENTOR. fi/wowM/f/NOJETH (an /E A JTE/NBERG ALB ERTA. HAGSTROM A7- TORNE Y6 y 3, 1955H. v. KINDSETH ET AL 2,753,097

BAG FEEDING AND FILLING MACHINES INVEN TOR.

HAROLD KK/NDJETH (1:191 15 AJTE/NBERG A1. BERTAhAGsTwA/J 47- TO E YaJuly 3, 1 6 H. v. KINDSETH ET AL 2,7 3,097

BAG FEEDING AND FILLING MACHINES Filed July 15 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 9INVENTOR. fiA/POL 0 [Of/N055 TH BY AESL/E/kJ/Z/NBERG FIG. 9 LBET GJTROMATTORNEYJ July 3, 1956 Filed July 13, 1951 H. V. KINDSETH ET AL BAGFEEDING AND FILLING MACHINES 14 Sheets-Sheet l0 2 JNVEN TOR.

fin/P040 M/f/NDSE TH Ir 9 BY lEsL IE AJTE/NBERG PALBERTA-flAGSTROMATTORNEK:

14 Sheets-Sheet ll ET AL H. v. KINDSETH BAG FEEDING AND FILLING MACHINESHAGsTRoM INVENTOR.

1501 lsAJrfl/vafifics AL BERT/4. M

ATTORNEY:

#49010 V. K/NDsETH 6&4

7 6 w o 9 2 2 v B p 2 z B 9 z 3 3 2 l 3 Z 9 4 H 2 VIII July 3, 1956Filed July 13 195] July 3, 1956 H. v. KINDSETH ET AL 2,753,097

BAG FEEDING AND FILLING MACHINES Filed July 15, 195] 14 Sheets-Sheet 12a f 38 E --9 INVENTOR. m flARow k/f/NDSETH BY ESL/E Adm/Masks ALBERAJ'IAGSTROM #7622 M M 147' "raR/vEYs y 3, 1956 H v. KINDSETH ETAL2,753,097

BAG FEEDING AND FILLING MACHINES l4 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed July 13, 1951TW A l 82 as INVENTOR. M09010 k/f/NDJETI/ ESL 15A .STE/NBERG VLMQLBERr/I .HAGSTROM WW ATTORNEY:

y 3, 1956 H. v. KINDSETH ET AL 2,753,097

BAG FEEDING AND FILLING MACHINES Filed July 13, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet l4ScAL E FEED HOPPER Jupm. Y C/Rcu/ 7' 236 CONTROL Box 235 244 /05 IN VENTOR.

flARaL 0 M/fA/DJETH BY LEsz/EA, TEINBERG G ALBERTA. AGSTROM ATToRA/EK:

2,753,097 BAG FEEDING AND FILLING MACHINES Harold V. Kindseth, Leslie A.Steinberg, and Albert A. Hagstrom, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors toBemis Bro. Bag Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of MissouriApplication July 13, 1951, Serial No. 236,526 17 Claims. (Cl. 22649)This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bag feeding andfilling machines of the general character disclosed in the patent toDaniel Belcher et al., No. 2,343,879, granted March 13, 1944.

An important object of the present invention resides in the provision ofa machine of this general type which is capable of feeding and fillingsmall cellophane bags without damaging the bags, and whereby suchoperation may be performed in a highly eflicient and expeditious manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved hopper ormagazine for supporting the empty bags in fiatwise relation, andparticularly in the pivotal mounting of the magazine, whereby a slightdownward tilting movement is imparted to the magazine each time a bag iswithdrawn therefrom, thereby to relieve the walls of the lowermost bagof excessive strains when withdrawn from the bottom of the hopper by thebag gripping members.

A further object is to provide improved means for partially opening themouth or top of the lowermost bag in the magazine to facilitate entry ofthe bag gripping member therein.

A further object resides in the unique construction and operation of themeans for partially opening each bag top prior to withdrawing the bagsfrom the magazine, and in means provided in conjunction therewith formomentarily directing a high velocity air jet into the bag mouth toexpand it whereby the bag top gripping means may readily enter the bagmouth to grip the bottom wall thereof.

A further object is to provide in a machine of this general type, a pairof spaced fingers for engaging the leading edge of the flattened bottomof each bag and fold the bag bottom upon itself, thereby to facilitateexpanding the lower portion of the bag body when a charge of material issubsequently delivered into the empty bag.

A further object is to provide means for automatically preventing thedelivery of material into the bag filling tube, should a bag not beproperly positioned thereon to receive such charge.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide anelectrically operated gate in the bottom of the weighing hopper which isnormally closed when the machine is at rest, and a normally opencircuit-closing switch being carried by the filling tube and having anactuating member positioned in the path of a wall of a bag top to befitted onto the lower end of the filling tube, said switch actuatingmember being so arranged that when the top of a bag to be filled isproperly positioned upon and secured to the filling tube, saidswitchactuating member is actuated to close an electric circuit to thegate operating means, whereby said gate is automatically opened topermit the weighing hopper to dump its full charge into the empty bagsupported on the filling spout.

A further object resides in the unique construction and United StatesPatent operation of the means for automatically opening and closing thebottom of the filling spout, and whereby the filling spout serves tofully expand the bag mouth and support the bag thereon in position toreceive a measured charge from the weighing hopper.

Other objects of the invention reside in the unique construction andoperation of the various operating mechanisms of the machine, wherebythe machine is substantially automatic in operation; in the construction of the filling spout which comprises complemental members whichnormally are collapsed to close the bottom of the filling spout; in theembodiment of one of said members of a pair of bag wall gripping jawsfor securing a bag in position upon the lower end of the filling spoutover a suitable receiving or conveying means onto which each filled bagis deposited, when it has received its full charge; in the embodiment ofan electric control switch in one of said jaws engageable by the bag topto control the delivery of material into each bag; and in the simpleconstruction and orientation of the various mechanisms of the machinewhereby it readily lends itself for use in packaging various products insmall flexible walled containers such as cellophane and paper bags, in ahighly efiicient and expeditious manner.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for theirattainment will be more apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structuredesigned to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is tobe understood that the invention is not confined to the exact featuresshown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear view of a bag feeding and filling machine embodyingthe invention, one of the bag filling mechanisms being omitted;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view substantially on the line2-2 of Figure 19, showing a filled bag suspended from the filling spout;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view similar to Figure 2, partiallybroken away, showing the means for partially opening the top of thelowermost bag in the magazine to permit free entry of one of the bag topgrippers into the open bag top;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 25,showing the bag top grippers engaged with a wall of a bag toppreparatory to withdrawing a bag from the magazine;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the parts actuated towithdraw the bag from the magazine, and also showing the fingers forbreaking or folding the bag bottoms about to engage a bag bottom;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the operatingmeans for the bag top opener;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view showing the means for engaging theupwardly folded portion of a satchel bottom of a bag and folding it intofiatwise relation with the remaining portion of the bag bottom;

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the bag bottom folded upon itself;

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 99 of Figure12;

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view on the line 1010 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the means foropening the bag top as the bag approaches the closed lower end of thefilling spout;

Figure 12 is a View showing the lower end of the filling spout enteringthe open bag top, and also showing the operating means for actuating thebag top grippers;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the latch forretaining the movable bag top gripping jaw in open position;

Figure 14 is: a view similar to Figure 13, showing the latch actuated torelease the jaw;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary view showing the bag top gripping jaws on thefilling spout in closed position;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary view showing the means for swinging the lowerend of the filling spout from bag receiving to bag supp rt ng position,and also for opening the lower end of the spout to permit its contentsto enter h a Figure 17 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line17-47 of Figure 19, with some of the parts omitted, showing themechanically operated finger and pneumatic means for partially openingthe mouth of each bag before it iswithdrawn from the magazine;

Figure 18 is a detail sectional view on of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a front elevation of a portion of the machine withsome ofthe parts omitted;

Figure 20 is a sectional plan view on the line 2il20 of Figure 19,showing the bottom construction of the magazine;

Figure 21 is a view showing a portion of the rear of the machinewithsome of the parts omitted;

Figure 22 is a detail sectional view on the line 22-22 of Figure 21;

Figure 23 is anenlarged detail sectional view showing the means forautomatically preventing delivery of material into the filling spoutfrom the weighing hopper, in the event. the open-bag top is not properlyengaged with the filling spout, or should the filling spout fail toreceive a Figure 24 is a detail sectional view on the line 24-24 ofFigure 23;

Figure 25 is a detail view partially in section, showing the means forgripping and feeding the empty bags from the magazine to the fillingspout;

Figure 26 is a vertical sectional view of the portion of the machineshown in Figure 25 taken on the line 26-2-6 ofFigure 2;

Figure 27 is a detail sectional view on the line 27-27 of Figure 21;

Figure 28 is a wiring diagram showing the means providedforautomatically preventing delivery of material into the filling spoutifthe bag to be filled is not properly secured to the filling spout; and vFigure 29 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connectionsbetweenthe dual micro-switches for controlling the delivery of materialto the filling spout.

the line 18-48 Supporting structure In: the selected embodiment of theinvention herein disclosed, there is illustrated in Figure l, forpurposes of disclosure, a bag feeding and filling machine comprising asupporting frame which, in some respects, is similar to the framegof themachine shown in the above mentioned patent. The present machinecomprises side frame members, generally designated by the numeral 2,each comprising a lower section 3 and an upper section 4, shown securedtogether by suitable bolts 5. An intermediate frame member, generallydesignated by the numeral 6, is supported on a pedestal like device 7ofa horizontal frame member 8 having its ends suitably secured to the:upper portion of the lower frame sections 3. An upper cross member 9 hasits ends suitably secured to the upper ends of the frame sections 4 andcooperates with the horizontal frame member 8 to provide a very ruggedstructure for supportingthe various operating mechanisms of the machine,subsequently to be described.

Bag supporting means A-feature of the present invention residesingthemeans provided for supporting the empty; bags, whereby the machinereadily lends itself for handling cellophane bags as well as paper bags.The machine, as shown in Figure 1, comprises two bag feeding and fillingunits or mechanisms which operate alternately. As the two bag feedingand filling units are substantially identical in construction, but oneneed be described in detail.

The empty bags are supported in a magazine, generally designated by thenumeral 11, comprising side walls 12 and 13 pivotally supported on ashaft 14 mounted in the rear portion of the upper frame sections 4 and6, as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 20. Theside walls 12 and 13 arelaterally adjustable to vary the spacing therebetween to adapt themachine for bags of different sizes. To thus laterally adjust the sidewalls of the magazine, T-shaped supporting members, generally designatedby the numerals 15 and 16, are pivotally connected to the side walls 12and 13, respectively, by shouldered studs 17 having reduced terminalsreceived in threaded engagement with the walls 12 and 13, asbest'illustrated in Figure 20. Spaced guide rods 18 are secured at oneend to the supporting member 15 and extend laterally therefrom and havetheir opposite end portions slidably received in suitable guides 19provided in the intermediate frame member 6, as best illustrated inFigure 20.

Similar guide rods 21 are secured at one end to the supporting member'16 of the magazine wall 13, and have their outer end portions similarlyslidably supported in guides 22 provided in the upper section 4 of theside'frame member 2. Suitable means, such as set screws 23, are shownreceived in threaded engagement with the guides 19 and 22, respectively,for locking the guide rods in adjusted positions therein, as will beunderstood by reference to Figure 20.

The supporting members 15 and 16 are each provided with a T-shaped head24 having arcuately formed peripheries 25 which are longitudinallygrooved,-as shown at 26, adapted to receive tongues 27 provided on'apair of spaced brackets 28 secured to the side walls 12 and 13 of themagazine, as shown in Figures 3 and 20. The studs 17, it will be notedby reference to Figures 2 and 3, are received in slots 29 provided inthe supporting members 15 and 16, whereby the side walls of the magazineare adapted for relative swinging movement in vertical planes withrespect to the supporting members 15 and 16.

The bottom of the magazine 11 is shown formed by inwardly extendingplates 31-32 having their outer edge portions detachably and adjustablysecured to the lower edges of the magazine walls 12 and 13 by such meansas screws, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 20. The plate elementsare slotted, as shown at 30, for receiving the screws. and whereby theplate elements may readily be adjusted to vary the spacing between theirinner edges 33 inaccordance with the type of bagbodies to be handled.The inner marginal edge portions of the plate elements 3132 are providedwith forwardly projecting reduced extensions 40v which have theirterminals down- Wardly curved to facilitate guiding the bag bodies outof the bottom of the magazine with a minimum of resistance and to avoiddamage thereto, particularly cellophane bags, which are relatively morepliable and frail than conventional paper bags.

When the magazine is to be utilized for supporting paper bags, the,bottom plate elements 31 and 32 are reversed from the position shown inFigure 20, as indicated by the dotted lines in. said figure, whereby thereduced resilient end portions .0 are; rearwardly' directed and thenotched portions 50 of the plate elements are forwardly directed. Tothus. reverse the plate elements 31 and 32, plate element 31 is securedto magazine wall 13 and plate member 32' to wall member 12.

Upwardly; and forwardly extending plate elements 34 are adjustablysecured to the magazine side walls 12 and 13, as shown in Figures 4 and20, and cooperate :to retainthe empty bags in position; in themagazinee' Suitable wing bolts 35 may be utilized for securing the backwall plates 34 in adjusted-position whereby the magazine is adapted forsupporting bags of various sizes. The adjusting screws 35 are slidablein longitudinally extending slots 37 provided in the side walls of themagazine, as illustrated in Figures 2, 3. 4 and 5.

The magazine is normally positioned, as shown in Figure 3, and isadapted to be tilted downwardly to the position shown in Figures 2 and4, when the lowermost bag in the magazine is withdrawn therefrom. Toprevent the empty bags from dropping out of the front end of themagazine, inwardly extending plate elements 38 are secured to the frontedges of the side walls 12 and 13 and extend inwardly, as shown inFigure 20, whereby the top ends of the bags engage said inwardlyextending plates, as shown in Figure 3, thereby to prevent the emptybags in the magazine from accidentally dropping therefrom during theoperation of the machine.

Means for partially opening bag mouth To make certain that the baggripping means, subsequently to be described, may readily enter each bagmouth, means is provided for partially opening the mouth of thelowermost bag in the magazine. Such means is clearly illustrated inFigures 3, 17, 18 and 19, and comprises an elongated blade 39 having itsinner end portion 41 bent upwardly, as best illustrated in Figure 17.The blade 39 is shown secured to a rock shaft 42 having one endrotatably supported in a bearing provided in the intermediate framesection 6, and its opposite end similarly supported in the outer framesection 4, as will be understood by reference to Figure 19. Shaft 42 ismounted for rocking movement to swing the blade 39 from its inoperativeposition, shown in Figure 2, to bag mouth opening position, shown inFigures 3 and 17.

Simultaneously, as the upturned terminal 41 of blade 39 engages the topwall of the lowermost bag in the magazine, a jet of high velocity air isdirected into the partially open bag top from a nozzle 43, as indicatedby the arrows in Figure 17. The nozzle 43 is secured to the rock shaft42 by a clamping block 44, which also serves to secure the bag top wallengaging blade 39 to shaft 42. See Figure 18. Air may be supplied to thenozzle 43 by a conduit 45 having one end connected to a suitable fitting46 provided with a control valve 47, which is automatically operated intimed relation to the machine by suitable means, not shown. Valve 47 hasa conduit 48 leading therefrom to a source of air supply, not shown inthe drawings.

The means provided for operating rock shaft 42 is best illustrated inFigure 6, and comprises an arm 49 having one end secured to shaft 42 andits opposite end pivotally connected to one end of a link 51. Theopposite end of link 51 is shown connected to one end of a lever 52having its opposite end pivoted to the machine frame, as shown at 53 inFigure 6. A roller 54 is mounted on lever 52 intermediate its ends andengages the periphery of a cam 55 non-rotatably secured to a mainoperating shaft 56 driven from a counter-shaft 57 by a chain drive 58.The counter-shaft may be driven from a motor 59 by a V-belt drive 61,including drive pulleys 62 and driven pulleys 63, the latter preferablyembodying suitable clutch means, not shown. A hand wheel 64 is securedto the countershaft 57 whereby the machine may be manually operated tofacilitate checking and timing the various mechanisms thereof. Roller 54is retained in engagement with cam 55 by a suitable spring 60, shown inFigure 6.

Bag feeding means The bag feeding means is best illustrated in Figures3, 4, 5, l2 and 15, and comprises a bag wall gripping member 65laterally extending from a head 66 secured to one end of an elongatedtubular member 67. Member 67 is suitably supported inv a bearing 68,pivotally supported between the ;end...walls...69 and 7.1 of a rotarymember 72 by opposed trunnions 70, shown in Figure 25 Member 72 willhereinafter be referred to as the bag feeding drum. A segmental plate 73is suitably secured to the end walls 69 and 71 of the drum, whereby saidplate and end walls cooperate to provide, in effect, an integral unit.End walls 69 and 71 are shown provided with suitable hubs 74 bored toreceive the main operating shaft 56, and to which they are suitablykeyed, as shown in Figure 26.

The lower end of the tubular member 67 is pivotally connected to one endof an arm, generally designated by the numeral 75, by means of acoupling member 76, which, as best shown in Figure 11, is split and issecured to the tubular member 67, by a suitable clamping screw 77.

The pivotal connection between arm 75 and coupling member 76 is showncomprising a pin 78 fixed to the coupling member by such means as a setscrew 79, shown in Figure 11. Arm 75 preferably comprises two likemembers 81 having spaced hubs 82 mounted on a shaft 83 supported inbearings 84 and 85 provided respectively in the side wall 69 and 71 ofdrum 72. Arm members 81 are tied together by a suitable connecting web86, shown in Figures 5 and 25. A forked element 87 is secured to shaft83 by a pin 88, and is located between the hubs 82 of arm members 81, asshown in Figure 25. The spaced legs of member 87 have set screws 89 and91 mounted therein which engage opposite sides of web 86 and serve tolock arm members 81 of arm 75 to the forked element 87 for directmovement therewith. Hubs 82 of arm 81 are adapted for relative rotationon shaft 83 by manipulation of set screws 89 and 91, as will readily beunderstood by reference to Figure 5.

A spring 93 has one end secured to one of the arm members 81 of arm 75and has its opposite end anchored to drum 72, as indicated at 94 inFigure 5, whereby arm 75 is constantly urged in one direction, as willreadily be understood by reference to Figure 5. A suitable crank arm 95is secured on one end of shaft 83 and carries a roller 96 whichperipherally engages a cam, generally designated by numeral 97. Cam 97is fixed with respect to the main frame of the machine, and is securedto one of the side frame members 4 by brackets 90, as shown in Figure25.

It will thus be noted that tubular member 67 is carried by drum 72 androtates therewith as a unit. For each revolution of drum 72, tubularmember 67 oscillates about the axis of its trunnions 70, as a result ofroller 96 of crank arm 95 engaging the periphery of cam 97. The contourof cam 97 is such that as the gripper plate 65 approaches the partiallyopen mouth of the lowermost bag in the magazine, said plate is movedoutwardly to a position where it may readily enter the open mouth of thebag, as indicated in Figure 3. At this point in its cycle of operation,the magazine is still in an elevated position. The magazine, ashereinbefore stated, is mounted for pivotal movement about the axis ofshaft 14.

To impart pivotal movement to the magazine, an arm 98 has one endsecured to shaft 14 and carries a roller 99 at its outer end whichperipherally engages a cam, generally designated by the numeral 101,shown in Figure 3. Cam 101 is secured to the main shaft 56 and isrotatable therewith. It has a low spot 102 in its periphery into whichroller 99 of arm 98 is shown about to enter, when the parts arepositioned as shown in Figure 3. When roller 99 enters low spot 102 ofcam 101, the magazine is tilted from the position shown in Figure 3 tothat shown in Figures 2 and 4, and simultaneously tubular member 67 isactuated to move the lower wall of the bag top into gripping engagementwith a plurality of resiliently mounted bag top engaging elements 103,shown in Figure 4. The resiliently mounted gripper elements 103 arecarried by drum 72 which also carries the gripping plate 65 of thetubular member 67. 1

Thus, as the drum continues to rotate from the position shown in" Figure4, the lowermost bag in the magazine is'withdrawn therefrom and advancestowards the bag filling means, as shown in'Figures and 12. When the bagtop" reaches the position shown in Figure 12, roller 96 of arm 95engages a low spot 1194 in the periphery of cam 97, whereby a slightmovement is imparted to the tubular member 67' to cause its bag topgripping plate 65 to release the bag top. At substantially the samemoment, the open bag top passes onto the closed lower end of a fillingspout, generally designated by the numeral 105. Before the gripper plate65 releases the bag top, the bag top is openedor expanded to receive thefilling spout 105, as shown in Figure 11.

This is accomplished by a member 106 pivoted at 107 to the head 66 ofthe tubular member 67. An actuating rod 108 has one end connected by alink to the pivoted'element 106, as shown in Figure 11, and is slidablysupported in suitable guides Within the tubular member 67. The upper endof rod 108, when viewed, as shown in Figure 11, has a head 111 securedthereto between which and the upper end of member 67, a suitable spring112 is interposed. Spring 112 constantly urges the rod in an upwarddirection to move the bag top expander 106m its normal or closedposition.

When the bag top reaches the position shown in Figures 11 and 12, rod108 is actuated to cause the bag top expander 166 to fully expand thebag mouth, as shown in Figure ll. This is effected by an arm 113 mountedon a pivot pin or bolt 114 carried by drum '72. Arm 113 has a crank 115secured thereto which carries a roller 116 at its outer end adapted toengage a fixed cam 117, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 11. Roller116 engages fixed cam 117 when the bag top is about to receive the lowerend of filling spout 195, whereby the bag mouth expander 106 is actuatedto permit the filling spout to freely enter the bag mouth. As soon asthe filling spout has sufficiently entered the bag mouth, roller 116drops off cam 117, and at substantially the same instant member 196 andgripper plate 65 are moved out of the bag top.

However, before gripper plate 65 releases its grip on the bag wall 118,complemental gripping elements, subsequently to be described, grip thelower bag wall 122, as shown in Figures 15 and 23, and support the emptybag body in position on the filling tube preparatory to receiving acharge. Cam 117 is rotatively adjustable on cam 97, as indicated at 100in Figure 11. Arm 115 is normally held against a stop 110 on drum 72 bya spring 120, as shown in Figure 4. Arm 113 carries an adjusting screw113 at its outer end for engaging head 111 of rod 1%.

To facilitate the withdrawal of the empty bags from the bottom of themagazine, it is essential that the forward bottom end of the magazine bepositioned in proximity to the segmental plate or wall '73 of drum 72;.Means is therefore provided for relatively adjusting the position of theopen forward end of the magazine with respect to tne periphery of drum72. Such means is shown in Figures 2, 3, 5 and 20, and comprises a pairof like arms 123 and 124, non-rotatably secured to shaft 14 adjacent tothe side walls 12 and 13, respectively, of the magazine. Studs 125 aresecured to the magazine walls and extend outwardly therefrom and arereceived in vertically disposed elongated apertures 126 provided in arms123 and 124. The studs 125 may be secured to their respective magazinewalls by suitable brackets 127, fixed to said walls by such means asbolts 128.

Adjusting screws 129 are shown received in threaded engagement with thelower webs 131 of arms 123 and 124, whereby the adjusting screws may bevertically adjusted in said arms thereby to relatively adjust theposition of the lower forward end of the magazine with respect to theperiphery of the drum 72. This results because arms 123 and 124 aresecured to shaft 14 in fixed relation to arm 98, whereby the weight ofthe forward end of the magazine is supported on the heads of theadjusting screws -129', as will readily be-understood by ref- Means forbreaking bag bottom Themachine herein disclosed is designed moreparticularly for handling fiat cellophane or paper bags havingconventional satchel bottoms, as shown at S in Figure 19. The bottoms ofthe empty bags are normally disposed in fiatwise relation to theirrespective bag bodies to facilitate stacking the empty bags and toeconomize in storage space. The empty bags are stacked in the magazinein fiatwise relation, one upon another, in the manner in which the bagsare usually stacked in storage.

To facilitate filling the bag bodies, means is provided for breaking orfolding the flat-bottom of each bag longitudinally upon itself in orderthat the bottom of the bag will fill out to its proper shape and maximumcapacity, when a charge of material is subsequently delivered into thebag. The means provided for thus breaking or folding the bag bottoms isbest illustrated in Figures 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 20, and comprises apair of spaced resiliently mounted fingers, generally designated bynumeral 132. Each finger comprises a rod 133 slidable in guides 134- and135 provided in suitable supporting members 136 mounted for relativerotation upon a shaft 137 fixedly supported in split hubs 138 and 139 ofthe machine frame, as illustrated in Figures 19 and 20.

Each bag bottom engaging finger is shown provided with a flat head 141which are disposed in a common plane and are adapted to engage each bagbottom, as the bags are successively withdrawn from the magazine. SeeFigure 5. Fingers 132 are mounted for both axial and rotative movementsand are normally restrained from such movements by spring means. As bestillustrated in Figure 10, a collar 142 is secured to each rod 133 andhas 21 depending element 143 mounted to travel in slots 144 provided inthe bottoms of the lower tubular portions of their respective supportingmembers 136. A spring 145 is coiled about each rod 13 within theirtubular guide portions, and are disposed between the collars 142 and thebottoms of the bores 146 of the lower tubular portions of members 136,whereby the fingers 132 are normally resiliently retained in theirforward positions, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

Secured to shaft 137 between members 136 is a spring supporting bracket147 comprising a forwardly extending ledge or shelf 148 in which ismounted a pair of spring actuated bolts 149, best illustrated in Figure19. These bolts, it will be noted, have their lower ends received inapertures provided in shelf 148, and each has a spring coiled thereaboutwhich are seated upon the shelf 148 and have their upper ends engagedwith the heads of bolts 149. Suitable nuts 151 are received in threadedengagement with the lower ends of the bolts for retaining them inposition on shelf 148, and also whereby the tension in the springs maybe varied. The supporting members 136 for the bag bottom engagingfingers 132 are shown provided with opposed arms 153, which have theirouter ends extending inwardly over the heads of the spring pressed bolts149 and cooperate with said bolts to provide resilient stops forretaining fingers 132 in their normal forwardly extending positions,shown in Figures 3, 9, 12 and 20.

Also secured to shaft 137 are two collars 154 and 155, each having areduced portion 156 adapted to be inserted in the adjacent ends oftubular housings 157. The opposite ends of said housings are supportedon re duced cylindrical extensions 158 provided on the outer faces ofthe supporting members 136 for the fingers 132, as best shown in Figure9. Suitable torsion springs 159 are coiled about shaft 137 within thehousings 157 and have their opposed terminals bent outwardly in oppositedirections and received in apertures provided, respectively, in collars154-and and the-supporting member 136'. Collars 154 and 155 are'shownadjustably mounted 9 on shaft 137, and are so adjusted relative to oneanother that fingers 132 are disposed in a common plane and are free toyield in a downward direction when engaged by a bag bottom, as shown inFigure 7.

Secured to bracket 147 is one end of a flat plate or shield 161, thelower end of which normally substantially engages the periphery of aroller 162, yieldably mounted in the lower ends of depending arms 163having their upper ends fixed to shaft 137. In the drawings arms 163 areshown provided with split hubs for receiving shaft 137, and are securedthereto by manipulation of suitable clamping screws 164. See Figures 6and 19.

Roller 162 is mounted upon a shaft 165 having its terminals received inelongated openings or slots 166 provided in the lower ends of arms 163.Spring elements 167 are provided in the elongated openings 166 andengage shaft 165 to constantly urge roller 162 in a direction towardsdrum 72.

When the machine is in operation, the bags are successively withdrawnfrom the bottom of the magazine by the gripping elements 65 and 103. Aseach bag is withdrawn from the magazine, the segmental plate 73 of thedrum rotates simultaneously with the bag top gripping elements 65 and103, as hereinbefore stated, so that the lower portion of the bag bodyis supported on the drum as the flat bottom of the bag approaches thebag breaking or folding fingers 132. In Figure a bag bottom is shownapproaching the bag folding fingers 132. When the bag bottom engagesfingers 132, the leading half of the bag bottom is partially foldedupwardly, as shown in Figure 7, and as the drum continues its rotarymovement, the bottom folding fingers 132 recede in their guides 136 asthe bag bottom reaches the position shown in Figure 7. In this positionit will be noted the leading half of the bag bottom has been upwardlyfolded by fingers 132.

As the bag bottom travels from the position shown in Figure 7 to thatshown in Figure 8, the fingers complete the folding of the bag bottom,and the bottom then engages the spring-mounted pressure roller 162 whichpresses the leading half of the folded bag bottom firmly against thetrailing half thereof, whereby the bag bottom will retain substantiallysuch shape as it advances from the position shown in Figure 8 to thatshown in Figure 12. The shield or guide plate 161 may also serve toprevent the free or upper wall of the bag top from impinging againstroller 162 as it passes thereby. A guide plate 168 may be provided belowthe drum 72 to guide the bags in their course, as they are fed from themagazine to the bag filling means, next to be described. See Figure 12.

Bag filling mechanism Another feature of the invention resides in theunique construction of the filling spout and its operating means,whereby each bag is firmly gripped and retained on the bag filling spoutuntil it has received its full charge. The bag filling spout and itsoperating mechanism is best illustrated in Figures 2, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 22, 23 and 27, and comprises filling spout 105, hereinbeforereferred to.

The filling spout, as best illustrated in Figures 22 and 27, comprisescomplemental wall members 169 and 171, which constitute opposed walls ofthe spout and are mounted for relative pivotal movement about the axisof a shaft 172. Spout member 169 is provided at its upper end withspaced hubs 173 bored to receive shaft 172. Hubs 173 are preferablyprovided with suitable bushings 174. A suitable torsion spring 175 hasone end anchored to wall member 169 and its opposite end to shaft 172,as indicated at 176. This spring constantly urges wall member 169 in adirection towards wall member 171.

Wall member 171 is similarly provided with spaced hubs 177 and 178mounted respectively on cylindrical extensions provided on sleeves 179and 181, respectively. The sleeves are fixed to the spaced hubs of thewall member 171 by suitable screws 182, as shown in Figure 22, wherebythe wall member 171 and sleeves 179 and 181 become, in effect, anintegral unit which is adapted for relative rotation upon shaft 172. Acollar 183 is secured to shaft 172 adjacent to sleeve 181 and a similarcollar 184 is secured to the shaft adjacent to a member 185 mountedbetween collar 184 and the adjacent end of sleeve 179.

Means is provided for swinging the filling spout from its normal bagreceiving or closed position, shown in Figures 11 and 12, to its openbag filling position, shown in Figures 2 and 16. Such means consists ofan arm 186 mounted on sleeve 181 in fixed relation thereto, as shown inFigures 16 and 22. To thus secure arm 186 to sleeve 181, arm 186preferably has a split hub carrying a clamping screw 187, whereby thearm may be relatively adjusted on sleeve 181.

The means provided for thus actuating the filling spout is bestillustrated in Figure 16, and comprises a grooved cam 188 secured to themain operating shaft 56. Cam 188 has a groove 189 for receiving a roller191 secured to an operating arm 192 having one end pivotally connectedto arm 186 and its opposite end forked to receive the main operatingshaft 56, as clearly illustrated in Figure 16. In Figures 2 and 16, thefilling spout is shown positioned to receive a charge from a weighingbucket 193, diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 28. The high portionof cam groove 189 comprises approximately two thirds of thecircumference of the cam, and during the time the roller is engaged withthis portion of the cam the filling spout is retained in its openposition, shown in Figure 16. When the low portion of cam groove 189engages roller 191, the filling spout is swung inwardly from its openoperative position shown in Figures 2 and 16, to its closed bagreceiving position, shown in Figures 11 and 12.

Spring 175, as hereinbefore stated, normally urges spout member 169 in adirection towards wall member 171, but when the filling spout is swungoutwardly to its open position, as shown in Figure 16, wall member 169engages a stop 194 carried by a bracket 195 secured to a portion 196 ofthe machine frame. Stop 194 is yieldable, and comprises a head 197secured to one end of a rod 198 slidable in a guide 199 adjustablymounted in a split hub 201 of bracket 195. A spring 202 is interposedbetween the head 197 and the adjacent end of guide 199, and constantlyurges the head 197 towards a laterally extending lug 203 provided onwall member 169.

Main spout member 171 is shown provided at its upper end with ahopper-like intake 170 adapted to receive a porous tubular member of asuitable textile material 204, having its upper end secured to adischarge hopper 205, shown in Figures 2 and 28. Carried by the mainwall member 171 of the filling spout is a movable clamping jaw 206adapted to cooperate with a complemental jaw or pad 207 fixed to thelower end of wall member 171 of the filling spout, as illustrated inFigures 11, 23 and 27. The movable jaw 206 constitutes a portion of ahousing 208, subsequently to be described, having split hubs 209 at itsupper end by which it is fixedly secured to a shaft 211 mounted insuitable bearings 212 provided in a bracket 210 secured to the upperportion of the main wall member 171 of filling tube 105. See Figure 21.

Latchz'ng means for movable jaw 206 A crank arm 213 is secured to oneend of shaft 211 and has one end of a link 214 pivotally connectedthereto. The opposite end of link 214 is pivotally connected to one endof an arm 215 provided on member 185, shown in Figure 22. Member ismounted for relative rotary movement on shaft 172 and has fixed theretoa relatively shorter arm 216, as shown in Figures 13, 14 and 22. A

latch member 217 is pivoted at 218 toarm 216, and has one end adapted toengage a notch 219 provided on the periphery of an annular member 221adjustably secured to sleeve 179' by a clamping screw 222. A spring 223has one end received in a socket 224 in the arm 216 and has its oppositeend engaging latch member 217 to constantly urge it into lockingengagement with the notch 219 in member 221.

A rod-like arm 225 has one end fixed to shaft 172 and has one end of aspring 226 secured to its outer ofi'set end, as clearly illustrated inFigures 13, 14 and 15. The opposite end of spring 226 is connected to anextension 227 on arm 213, as shown at 228 in Figure 11. Spring 226constantly tends to swing the movable jaw 206 into bag grippingengagement with the fixed jaw 207, but is restrained from so doing whenlatch 217 is engaged with notch 219.

N bagn0 material mechanism Means is provided for automaticallypreventing the delivery of material into the filling spout 105 in theevent the filling spout fails to receive a bag, or should the bag beimproperly secured thereto. Such means is best illustrated in Figures23, 24, 28 and 29, and comprises a pair of push button type switches 229of conventional design, mounted within the housing 208 in spacedrelation, as illustrated in Figures 24, and 29. Housing 208 has adetachable cover 231 whereby access may readily be had to switches 229.

The switches are mounted within the housing 208 with their push buttons232 received in openings 233 provided in the wall 234, which constitutesthe jaw 206, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 23. Itwill also be noted by reference to Figure 11 that the push buttons 232project beyond the gripping surface of jaw 206, whereby when a bag topis gripped between jaws 206 and 207 of the filling spout, as shown inFigures 2 and 15, the push buttons are depressed or actuated by the bagwall, thereby to close an electric circuit 235 shown comprising wires236 and 237, as illustrated in Figure 28.

Wire 236 electrically connects switches 229 to one end of a solenoidcoil 238, and a wire 239 connects the other end of solenoid 238 to awire 241 of a supply circuit 242. Switches 229 are connected in seriesby a wire 243, and wire 237 has one end connected with a control elementcontained in a suitable control box, generally designated by the numeral244. A wire 245 connects the other side of the control element in box244 to conductor 246 of the main supply circuit 242, as clearlyillustrated in the wiring diagram.

Solenoid 238 has a plunger 247 connected to one arm of a bell crank 248by a link 249. The other arm of hell crank 243 is operativey connectedto a slide valve 251 which is normally closed to shut off flow ofmaterial through the discharge opening 252 of the weighing bucket 193.When the solenoid is deenergized as a result of the circuit being openin the housing 208, its plunger 247 drops to the position shown inFigure 28, and thereby retains the slide valve or gate 251 in closedposition to prevent discharge of material from the weighing bucket 193.

A suitable dribbler, generally designated by the numeral 253, is mountedto dribble material into the weighing bucket to bring the weight of itscontents up to full measure, before the slide valve or gate 251 isopened to permit the contents of the weighing bucket to be dumped intothe discharge hopper 205, and thence into and through the filling spout105 into the bag supported on the lower end of the filling spout.Dribbler 253 is arranged to re-' ceive material from a leg 254 of ascale feed hopper 255 which, as indicated in Figure'28, has a second leg256 for delivering a short-weight charge into the weighing hopper 193,as is well knownin the art.

Operation In the operation of the novel bag feeding and filling.

machine herein disclosed, a supply of bags is placed in the magazine 11with the flattened bottoms of the bags facing upwardly, as clearlyillustrated in Figure 4. The machine, as hereinbefore stated, isparticularly designed for handling small bags having satchel bottoms, asindicated in Figure 19, but it is to be understood that it may beutilized for feeding and filling other types of bags capable of beingstacked in flatwise relation, as herein disclosed.

After the hopper 11 has been supplied with a stack of empty bags, themachine is set into motion whereby the bag top opening finger 39-41 isactuated and enters the mouth of the lowermost bag in the magazinethrough the usual thumb cut T in the lower bag wall, as shown in Figure17. Simultaneously, a jet of high velocity air is directed into thepartially open bag top to further open said top and thus permit the bagwall gripping member 65 to enter the bag mouth, as illustrated in Figure3. The bag opening finger 39--41 is actuated by cam 55 secured to themain operating shaft 56, as will be understood by reference to Figures 5and 6.

The bag' top gripping member 65 is actuated by arm and crank arm whichcarries roller 96 for engaging cam 97, as clearly illustrated in Figures2 and 11. Immediately following entry of the bag top gripping member 65into the bag mouth, the yieldable bag gripping elements 103 are advancedto the position shown in Figure 4, by rotation of drum '72, whereby jaw65 will engage the lower bag wall and press it into gripping engagementwith the resilient elements 103, as shown.

As the drum 72 continues in its rotation, the lowermost bag is Withdrawnfrom the magazine, as shown in Figure 5, and during such Withdrawal ofthe bag, the leading edge of its flattened bottom engages the bottombreaking fingers 132, as shown in Figures 5 and 7. As the bag bottomadvances from the position shown in Figure 5 to that shown in Figure 7,fingers 132 engage and fold the leading edge of the bag bottom over thetrailing portion thereof, as shown in Figure 8, and the folded bagbottom then engages roller 162 which resiliently presses it against theperiphery of drum '72 so that the bag bottom will retain its foldedcondition, when the bag is conveyed from the position shown in Figure 8to that shownin Figure 12.

The filling spout is in its closed inclined position shown in Figures lland 12, as the bag top gripping elements 65 and 103 deliver the emptybag thereto. At substantially the instant the bag top reaches the closedend of the filling spout, as shown in Figure 12, the bag top spreader 1%is actuated by crank arm 113, as a result of roller 116 engaging thehigh point of cam 117, whereby the bag top is fully expanded, as bestillustrated in Figure ll, so that it may readily be slipped over thelower closed end of the filling spout. When the filling spout is in theposition shown in Figures 11 and 12, jaw 296 is in its open positionwhereby the lower wall 122 or" the bag top may readily enter betweenjaws 225 and 207. When the bag top reaches substantially the positionshown in Figures 11 and 12, roller 96 of crank arm 95 engages the dropoff 104 of cam 97. This causes the bag top gripper 65 to release the bagtop and simultaneously latch 217 is actuated to release the movable jaw206 of the filling spout, whereupon said jaw is moved into grippingengagement with the bag wall as shown in Figure 2 and 15, by the actionof spring 226.

The means provided for thus actuating latch 217 to release jaw 206 isbest illustrated in Figure 12, and comprises an arm 257 secured to ashaft 253 rotatably supported in suitable bearings provided in themachine frame. A second arm 259 is also secured to shaft 258 and has aroller 261 at its outer end adapted to be engaged by a small cam 262secured to cam 183, as shown in Figures 16 and 2 1. Cam roller 261 isnormally slightly spaced

